October 30 - November 8, 2009 Traditional Thangka Painting Workshops with Carmen Mensink
Please join us from October 30 through November 8 as we welcome Tibetan thangka painter Carmen Mensink from the Netherlands, offering classes and workshops on painting and drawing at our Center - including workshops inspired by the creation of the Kalachakra Mandala by Ven. Losang Samten. This practice is suitable for everyone, including beginners who have no drawing experience whatever! This practice is like a meditation in itself and creates a lot of joy. During the workshops there will be drawing & painting practice, slideshow, lecture and brief meditation. Listed below is an overview of all workshops and dates.
Oct. Sun 25 at Tibetan Buddhist Center of Philadelphia - Afternoon
‘Drawing the Buddha Face according to the Tibetan Buddhist Tradition’ including short meditation
Sun 25 1:00 - 6:00pm
Cost: $50
Reservations: (610) 203-3200 or simmonssusan@hotmail.com
Mon. Oct. 26 at Tibetan Buddhist Center of Philadelphia - Evening Teaching
'Drawing the Kalachakra Symbol according to the Tibetan Buddhist Tradition'
Carmen Mensink will give a workshop on how to draw the Kalachakra symbol according to the Tibetan Tradition. The workshop comes with a short meditation, explanation of the tradition, alot of individual guidance and is suitable for everyone, including beginners with no drawing experience whatsoever!
Mon Oct. 26 6:30 - 9:30pm at Tibetan Buddhist Center of Philadelphia
Cost: $30
Reservations: (610) 203-3200 or simmonssusan@hotmail.com
Wed Oct 28 + Thurs Nov 29 at Tibetan Buddhist Center of Philadelphia - Evening Teachings
'Drawing and painting the Kalachakra Symbol according to the Tibetan Buddhist Tradition'
including short meditation. See above for further details.
Wed Oct 28 + Thurs 29 6:30- 9:00pm at Tibetan Buddhist Center of Philadelphia
Cost: $25 per evening
Reservations: (610) 203-3200 or simmonssusan@hotmail.com
Fri Oct 30 - Sun Nov 1 at Tibetan Buddhist Center of Philadelphia - Weekend Course
'Buddha Shakyamuni' In this weekend course you will learn how to draw Buddha Shakyamuni according to traditional Tibetan thangka scroll paintings. You will learn through a combination of slideshows, lectures and meditations about: the history and cultural/religious context of Tibetan thangka paintings, and the symbolism found in the Tibetan art itself. There will also be a detailed explanation of Buddha Shakyamuni’s mantra. If you are a Buddhist practitioner, drawing the Buddha image significantly improves visualization in your meditations. The practice of Buddha Shakyamuni (the ‘Enlightened One’) helps you purify negativities of body, speech and mind, which is essential if you want to make progress on the spiritual path. You will receive a lot of individual guidance and the course is suitable for everyone, including beginners with no drawing experience!
Weekend Course at Tibetan Buddhist Center of Philadelphia:
Fri 30 7:00 - 9:00pm Short meditation, Introduction & Slideshow on the subject
Sat 31 9:00 - 6:00pm, Sun Nov 1 9:00 - 5:00pm Drawing sessions
Cost: $120 for the weekend (Fri only Introduction $15)
Reservations: (610) 203-3200 or simmonssusan@hotmail.com
Tues Nov 3 & Wed 4 at Tibetan Buddhist Center of Philadelphia - Evening Teachings
'Thangka Painting techniques on Tibetan Buddhist Symbols' In these evenings, you will learn more about Tibetan thangka painting techniques. We will work with important Tibetan Buddhist symbols such as the Lotus and other Auspicious Signs. You will learn about the meaning of these symbols. There will be a brief meditation.
Tue 3 & Wed 4 6:30-9:00pm at Tibetan Buddhist Center of Philadelphia
Cost: $25 per evening
Reservations: (610) 203-3200 or simmonssusan@hotmail.com
Fri Nov 6 - Sun Nov 8 at Tibetan Buddhist Center of Philadelphia - Weekend Course
Green Tara
In this weekend course you will learn how to draw Green Tara according to traditional Tibetan Buddhist thangka scroll paintings. Green Tara, the female manifestation of active compassion, reaches out her hand to grant all wishes and, with her right foot outstretched, is ready to step down and help all who call upon her. Tara is one of the most revered deities of Tibetan Buddhism. When other male practitioners told her to pray for incarnation in a male body so she could reach enlightenment, she made the vow: ‘Until Samsara is empty, I shall work for the benefit of all sentient beings in a woman’s body’ The drawing of enlightened images is like a meditation and creates a lot of joy. You will learn through slideshows, lectures and meditations about the symbolism of Green Tara and her mantra. You will receive a lot of individual guidance and the course is suitable for everyone, including beginners with no drawing experience!
Weekend Course at Tibetan Buddhist Center of Philadelphia:
Fri Oct 6 7:00 - 9:00pm Short meditation, Introduction & Slideshow on the subject
Sat Oct 7 9:00 - 6:00pm, Sun 8 9:00 - 5:00pm Drawing sessions
Cost: $120 for the weekend (only Fri introduction $15)
Reservations: (610) 203-3200 or simmonssusan@hotmail.com
About the artist / teacher:
Born in the Netherlands, Carmen Mensink graduated from Kampen Academy of Arts in 1995 as a Graphic Designer. She lives in Amsterdam. In 1996, she completed a specialisation in Typography at The Hague Royal Academy of Arts. Three years later she met Andy Weber and began training in Tibetan thangka painting. Andy Weber is one of the first Western thangka painters and a student of Lama Yeshe in the early 1970s, who encouraged him to teach. Carmen immediately fell in love with this ancient and detailed craft and has been teaching for 6 years both in the Netherlands and abroad. Painting these enlightened objects is a meditation, and for Carmen it’s the ideal combination for her practice. Carmen says,‘The painting of Tibetan thangkas was a highly developed and important means of religious expression in Tibet, used in monasteries and placed on altars. Since the Chinese invasion of Tibet in the 1950s and the destruction of a lot of monasteries and old Tibetan traditions, it is even more important to keep this beautiful tradition alive and pure. With my paintings and teachings (which I do both with a lot of joy and dedication!) I hope to make a small contribution to this and assist in passing on the tradition."
